Rome versus Carthage. Frazier versus Ali. Pepsi versus Coca-Cola.

Marvel versus DC.

As our world is literally being burned alive, no greater threat of self-destruction lies within which superhero cinematic universe you prefer. The safe but generic Marvel? Or the experimental but rocky DC?

It seems as if "Wonder Woman" might have just been the flame to fan this argument once more.

In a wonderful surprise to both critics and audiences alike, "Wonder Woman" appears to have broken the DC barrier and delivered on one excellent time at the movies. But what separates "Wonder Woman" from a mere great film is everything it heroically stands for.

Like Wonder Woman herself, first impressions aren't as they appear. "Wonder Woman" is a breath of fresh air in a tired genre, a potential glimpse into DC's future, a respectful adaptation of an iconic story, and the single greatest example of female empowerment audiences have seen in years.

The mature understanding of storytelling lying within the frames of "Wonder Woman" is discernible right from the film's opening sequence. Beginning with the tired tropes of expository narration and flimsy time-jumping set up, "Wonder Woman" transforms these exhausting cliches into clever storytelling structures designed for audiences observant enough to appreciate their purpose.

What could have been yet another lazily constructed recap and set up for what's going on in the superhero cinematic universe up to this point, "Wonder Woman" instantly defies by telling a story entirely void of anything other than the origin of the character. No gratuitous cameos. No post-credit sequences. No detectable set ups of any kind.

Rather than being a meticulously manufactured focus-group tested project plucked from the assembly lines at the Superhero Movie-Making Factory, "Wonder Woman" is a legitimate film with well-written characters, larger than life action set pieces, and an authentic spirit most other superhero films have jumped at the chance to ignore.

Because of this decision to construct a stand-alone experience rather than a commercial disguised as a film advertising the next commercial disguised as a film, Director Patty Jenkins and Writer Allan Heinberg take every opportunity to create a fully fleshed out world with fully fleshed out characters.

"Wonder Woman" has the time to put the plot on hold for an intimate scene with two fully realized characters quietly dancing in a gentle snowfall. Or what is destined to be one of 2017's greatest cinematic moments in Diana Prince--A.K.A. Wonder Woman--discovering ice cream for the first time. It's in these small moments does "Wonder Woman" reveal its true identity as a film with a lovable humanity.

If ever given the chance to feature a bombastic action sequence or show a character defining moment, "Wonder Woman" chooses the latter every single time. In fact, only three major action sequences occur throughout the film's two and a half hour run time, leaving the majority of the film dedicated to strengthening relationships with characters as well as the audience's connection to them. A rarity in the current state of superhero oversaturation.

Even the main villain of the story rises above the ashes of typical, cliche super villains. While most villains' motivation stems from unspecified global annihilation, Wonder Woman's nefarious foe has a clear, concise, and legitimately understandable motivation of punishing humankind for using war and greed to ruin the preservation and beauty of a once perfect world he wants to bring back-- the same beauty that Wonder Woman actively believes is still present in the minds, hearts, and spirits of every man, woman, and child.

Rather than one masked superhero punching a super villain while making stupid quips for the 17th time in the same scene, "Wonder Woman" feature two passionate believers of their individual causes attempting desperately to reason with each other through logic and emotion long before the fists begin to fly. This fight for the fate of the world is made so much more compelling due to the complex nature of both protagonist and antagonist.

Watching Wonder Woman intentionally put her life on the line to defend a world she still doesn't quite understand yet loves unconditionally is emotionally gratifying. Watching the main villain adamantly target this world he understand but loathes in order to bring back a world he genuinely believes is a superior utopia is intellectually charged. It's inspiration versus degradation made only more intense due to amazingly written characters. Hulk picking up Loki and throwing him around as a joke in "The Avengers" seems so long ago now, doesn't it?

Moving behind the scenes of production, May of 2016 saw comic book creator Geoff Johns taking over as the head of the DC Extended Universe, making "Wonder Woman" the first of DC's films under his reign. Noticeably differing in tone and presentation, audiences and critics everywhere have begun to question whether this is a new direction for the future of the company, attempting to emulate Marvel's more whimsical formula. While all signs do seem to be pointing towards a new direction, these signs might also provide a serious flame to ignite the Marvel versus DC war once more.

With DC finally unlocking its truest potential under the reigns of avid comic book fans, the fight between the action-driven Marvel stories versus the character-driven DC stories is about to become curiously interesting. As hilariously flawed and inept as DC has been up to this point, one cannot deny their focus on characters and story rather than the silliness found in nearly all of Marvel's films.

Now that "Wonder Woman" shows DC is capable of creating a character-driven story with natural humor, spectacular action, and authentic heart, it may appear that DC has finally learned some lessons on how to manage its studio. While "Wonder Woman" could be a rare fluke with the upcoming "Justice League" serving as yet another DC disaster, audiences now have a future to look forward to for the first time. This is the conversation starter DC fans have been praying for.

But all of this pales in significance to what "Wonder Woman" means for women's liberation. Ignoring the fact that "Wonder Woman" is one of the best films of the genre, the mere existence of a big-budget blockbuster "Wonder Woman" adaptation is enough to celebrate. We've come along way from the likes of a "Catwoman" or an "Elektra" or even a "Supergirl."

The days of campy, terrible sex-appeal disguised as action may finally be over as director Patty Jenkins, writer Allan Heinberg, and star Gal Gadot have brought to life one of the most celebrated women in pop culture history with an enormous level of respect and care that it deserved. Of course nothing about "Wonder Woman" is even close to political by any means, but that is precisely why it's such a powerful experience.

Not only is Patty Jenkins the first female director to ever helm a superhero film, "Wonder Woman" is the biggest budget ever helmed by a female director estimated at about $120 million. "Wonder Woman" has transcended "great superhero film" into becoming a piece of cinematic history, one that will hopefully open the door for previous female artists to create their big budget spectacles.

But the only thing more important than the ones making these films is the ones watching them. Little girls became audibly excited in the theater when Diana stepped beyond the trenches to heroically face the dangers of World War I. While in the theater lobby, a little girl in a Wonder Woman crown was pretending to do the kicks and flips the real Wonder Woman did in the film.

After nearly 75 years, Wonder Woman can inspire anyone optimistic enough to share her world view, but it's the women out there that now have one of the most bad-ass comic book characters of all time finally reaching out to the mainstream to look up to. "Wonder Woman" is one of the finest examples of female empowerment to emerge from mainstream film in years and its relevance in today's society might actually be the first to truly earn the overused declaration of being "the film we need right now."

There isn't an existing adjective able to successfully convey how important all of this is.

It's very simple, "Wonder Woman" spits in the face of modern superhero film tropes, while also providing a brief glimpse into the future of DC, while also being the payoff to 75 years of waiting for a film adaptation, while also being a monumental piece of cinema history, while also being a terrific female empowerment film the likes we haven't seen yet. My unconditional love for this film leaps heights only Wonder Woman herself can reach.

Your move, Marvel...